The 45th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church convened June 18–21 at Ward Church in Northville Township, Mich. Ward Church and its then-Pastor, Bart Hess, were the hosts of the first General Assembly of the EPC in 1981. The 45th Assembly brought together more than 1,100 commissioners, observers, and guests for a week of worship, equipping, and deliberation on key matters affecting the denomination.
The Assembly addressed a range of overtures and reports related to ordination standards, position papers, denominational procedures, and budget transparency.
Ordination Standards Updated
One of the most closely followed areas of business involved Overtures 45-10 to 45-26 and 45-40 to 45-41, which proposed updates to the EPC’s ordination standards. Commissioners voted to retain the bachelor’s degree requirement for ordination and to remove the “extraordinary clause,” which had previously allowed presbyteries to approve candidates lacking ordinary qualifications under exceptional circumstances.
These changes followed recommendations from the Ad-Interim Committee on Ordination Standards, which hosted a well-attended networking lunch on Tuesday. The approved measures are intended to uphold consistent, high standards for pastoral preparation across the denomination.
Divorce & Remarriage Paper Referred for Further Study
Overture 45-27, which proposed revisions to the EPC’s Position Paper on Divorce and Remarriage, was referred to the Permanent Committee on Theology for further consideration. The referral allows for additional theological study and input from across the denomination before any potential changes are brought to a future Assembly.
Rules for Assembly Revised
Commissioners also approved several overtures (45-29 to 45-33) concerning the Rules for Assembly, resulting in updated procedures for how overtures are submitted, evaluated, and debated. These adjustments aim to streamline the overture process and clarify responsibilities within the Assembly’s constitutional framework.
Networking Lunches Highlight Key Topics
Two notable networking lunches provided space for constructive dialogue. On Tuesday, the Ad-Interim Committee on Ordination Standards met with commissioners to answer questions about their work. On Wednesday, a second lunch engaged the report of the Ad-Interim Committee on Same-Sex Attraction and Ordination, drawing wide participation and discussion on how the EPC can uphold biblical fidelity on this issue.
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